Safety switchboard



April 3, 1928. 1,665,126

J. F. BURNS SAFETY SWITCHBOARD Filed June 25, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet lApril 3, 1928.

J. F. BURNS SAFETY SWI TCHBOARD u .3. ,.f.\. wvflqhfl L \m, Q F R f G,

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Filed June 23, 1922 April 3, 1928. 1,665,126

J. F. BLJRNS SAFETY SWITCHBOARD 7 Filed June 23, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. BURNS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO V. V.FITTINGS COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYL- VANIA.

SAFETY SWITCHBOARD.

Application filed June 23, 1922.

One object of my invention is to provide a switch board construction inwhich a series of switch containing boxes shall be so assembled as toprovide or define a compartment or chamber for the reception of the busbars for supplying current to the switches in said boxes, and theinvention more especially'contemplates a novel arrangement of parts forcompletely inclosing said bus bars.

Another object of my invention is to provide a switch board having theabove characteristics, which shall also be constructed on the unitprinciple so that it may be con- 'veniently extended or added to, whilehaving its various elements conveniently accessible for purposes ofinspection.

It is further desired to provide a substantial, inexpensive, compact,easily assembled switch board in which the various current conductorsand apparatus shall be inclosed or isolated and which shall be in thehighest degree flexible as to the possibility of making additions,alterations, or repairs under conditions of use.

Another object of my invention is to pro' vide a novel combination ofswitch containing boxes with spacing and cover members so arranged as toprovide a closed chamber for the reception of main current supplyconductors electrically associated with the switches in said variousboxesthe arrangement being such as to permit of the convenientsubdivision of the conductors and switch boxes into electricallyindependent circuits and the convenient rearrangement or alteration ofthese circuits to meet the requirements incident upon additions,extensions, or changing load conditions.

These objects and other advantageous ends I attain as hereinaftersetforth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a switch board constructed inaccordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of a portion of the switch boardshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2, certain details of theswitch mechanism being omitted; and v Fig. 4 is a fragmentaryperspective view illustrating certain details of the invention.

In the above drawings I provide a suitable frame work of structural orro led ec- Serial No. 570,364.

tions including vertical elements 11 and a series of horizontal elements2, 3, 4 and 5, connecting said vertical elements. On this frame I mountany desired number of metallic switch boxes, preferably each having an1nclosed safety switch construction such as is described in my PatentNo. 1,443,867, Serial No. 198,968, filed October 29, 1917.

Each of said switch boxes includes a compartment 7 containing one ormore fuses 24 and a second compartment 6 for a switch 22, and, inaccordance with my invention, these switch boxes are arranged on theframe in pairs with their switch-containing compartments 6 directedtoward each other and spaced apart so that they together define anelongated, horizontally extending passageway or chamber 11. For properlyspacing the switch boxes and to provide a supporting structure for thecover plates hereafter described, I provide suitable spacers 8 as shownin Fig. 4, each consisting of an e1ongated plate or frame having a topflange 9, a bottom flange 10 and with its main portion or body cut awayor perforated, while its ends are extended between and are rigidlybolted or otherwise connected to the adjacent switch boxes on theopposite sides of the chamber 11. The flanges 9 and 10 may be formed ontheportions of the spacer 8 intermediate the adjacent sides of oppositeswitch boxes, as shown in Fig. 4, forming shoulders 11 and 12.

On the adjacent faces of each pair of 0pposite switch boxes I mountshort lengths 12 of angle section having their tops extended in theplane of the adjacent top flanges 9 of the two spacers 8 at either endof it, and for closing the front opening of that section of the chamber11 between each pair of opposite switch boxes, I provide a cover plate13 resting on the angles 12 and the top flanges 9 of the adjacentspacers 8 to which it is preferably held by screws or bolts. For closingthe rear side of the chamber thus defined between the adjacent parts ofthe switch boxes, I provide a series of back plates 14 bolted or screwedto the back flanges 10 of said spacers.

It will thus be seen that the switch boxes for any given system ofelectrical distribution are arranged, in accordance wit-h m invention,in two horizontally extended lines having between and coextensive withthem the chamber 11 in which are mounted the main current supplyconductors or bus bars 15, 16 and 17. The end walls of the switchcompartments 6 defining the sides of the chamber 11 are provided withsuitable openings, usually having insulating bushings 18, through whichextend conductors 19., 20 or 21 for delivering current from the bus barsto the switches 22 Within said compartments. Said switches are eachpreferably operated by a handle 23 mounted on the cover 6 of thecompartment 6, and are connected to the branch circuits which theysupply through suitable fuses 24 mounted in the fuse compartments 7 ofthe several boxes.

As shown in Fig. 1, the bus bars 15, 16 and 17 may be sub-divided intosections conveniently connected to each other by jumpers 25, and saidbars at suitable points are supplied with current through cables orother suitable conductors indicated at 26, 27 and 28. Where these enterthe chamber 11, the back cover plate 14 is replaced by a box-likerearwardly-projectin extension 29, preferably having knockouts 30 topermit of the entrance of said cables.

From the above description it will be appreciated that a switch boardmade as described may be indefinitely extended in the line of thechamber 11 merely by making suitable additions to the supporting frameand mounting thereon the necessary switch boxes these being preferablyarranged in pairs as desired and having the above described spacers andclosure plates; the bus bars being extended sectionally or otherwise asrequired and connected by the conductors 19, 20 and 21 to the variousswitches. The latter and their boxes preferably have such constructionthat the movable cover 31 of any fuse compartment is maintained lockeduntil the switch in the compartment 6 associated therewith is fullyopened and the switch cannot be closed until after said cover is closed,all as described in my aforementioned patent. Then only can access behad to the fuses 24 in said fuse compartment and it is obvious that theterminals in said compartment are-then dead or isolated from the currentsource. Obviously the bus bars are completely inclosed so that access tothem is effectually prevented and all live parts of the switches aresimilarly inclosed in their respective boxes.

At each end of the bus bar chamber or compartment 11, an end plate 32 isbolted or screwed to the outer sides of the last pair of switch boxes sothat said chamber is completely inclosed. At the same time access mayconveniently be had to any section of it merely by removing theappropriate front or back plate.

As shown there are a plurality of current supply sources for sets ofconductors 26-27 and 28, each delivering current to a definite memeslength of bus bars and hence to certain definite sets of feeders throughtheir controlling switches. One advantage of my invention lies in theconvenience with which any set or sets of jumpers 25 may be positionedor adjusted to vary the number of switches and feeders supplied from anyparticular set of supply conductors 26-27-28 to suit difierent loadconditions which may occur from time to time on certain feeders.

I claim:

1. The combination in a switch board structure of a plurality of pairsof switchcontaining boxes spaced apart to define the top and bottomsides of an elongated busbar chamber; spacing frames extending betweenadjacent pairs of boxes; and means for closing the front and back sidesof said bus-bar chamber.

2. The combination in a switch board of a supporting frame; a pluralityof pairs of switch-containing boxes mounted thereon with the boxes ofeach pair spaced apart to define two sides of a bus-bar chamber; spacingframes extending between the boxes of adjacent pairs; and platessupported on said frames for closing the front and back sides of saidchamber.

3. The combination is a switch board of two lines of switch boxes spacedapart to define an elongated bus-bar channel, each box including aswitch-containing compartment and a fuse compartment and the switchcompartments of one line of boxes being adjacent those of the otherline; plates for closing the front and back sides of the channel definedby said lines of boxes; and frames carried by adjacent boxes and adaptedto support said plates.

4. The combination in a switch board of two lines of switch-containingboxes spaced apart to define an elongated channel; frames extendingacross said channel and secured to adjacent boxes; plates mounted onsaid frames to close the front and back sides of the channel; andelectrical conductors in the channel connected to the switches in theboxes.

5. The combination in a switch board of two lines of switch-containingboxes spaced apart to define an elongated channel; frames extendingacross said channel and secured to adjacent boxes; plates mounted onsaid frames to close the channel; bus bars in the channel connected tothe switches in the boxes; supply conductors connected to the bus bars;and a housing opening into said channel, said housing being adapted toreceive said supply conductors.

6. The combination in a switch board of a supportlng frame; lines ofswitch-containing boxes mounted thereon and spaced apart to define anelongated channel; a series of frames having openings therein, extendedbetween the boxes of adj acent pairs and having boxes mounted thereonand spaced apartto define an elongated channel; removable platescooperating with said boxes to enclose the front and back of thechannel; removable closures for the ends of the channel; and electricalconductors in the channel connected to the switches in the boxes.

8. The combination in a switch board structure of a supporting frame; aplurality of pairs of switch-containing boxes mounted on said frame andspaced apart to define the top and bottom sides of a chamber; aplurality of-frames carried by the boxes of adjacent pairs and providedwith flanges;

front and rear plates carried by said flanges; bus bars extendinglongitudinally through said chamber; and connections from said bus barsto the several switches.

.9. In a switch board structure, a pair of spaced switch boxesconstituting the sides of a bus-bar chamber; a pair of frames havin theo posite ends thereof secured to sai spaced switch boxes, said frameshaving front and rear flanges; and a pair of closure plates for saidchambers respectively mounted on said flanges.

10. The combination in a switch board structure of a supporting frame; aplurality of pairs of switch-containing boxes mounted on said frame andspaced apart to define an elongated chamber; sectional bus barsextending longitudinally through said chamber; jum rs connectingtogether certain I sections 0 said bus bars; sets of current supplyconductors respectively connected to different sections of the bus bars;and conductors connecting the switches and the bus bars adjacentthereto.

'11. Apparatus comprising two lines of switch boxes spaced apart todefine an elongated channel; frames extending across said channel andinterposed between adjacent boxes; and closure plates mounted on saidframes.

12. In a switch board structure, a pair of spaced switch boxesconstituting opposite sides of a bus-bar chamber; a pair of frameshaving the opposite ends thereof secured to said spaced switch boxes,said frames having front and rear flanges; a shoulder formed on one ofsaid switch boxes; and a pair of closure plates for said chamberrespectively mounted on said flanges, said shoulder also serving tosupport one of said plates.

13. A; switch board structure comprising a plurality of pairs of spacedswitch boxes; pairs of frames extending between at least one of saidplurality of pairs of boxes and secured thereto; flanges on said frames;a pair of plates respectively mounted on said flanges; and a pair ofshoulders respectively mounted on said last-mentioned pair of switchboxes, said shoulders serving to support one of said plates.

14. In a switch board structure, the combination with a pair of spacedswitch boxes constituting sides of a bus-bar chamber; of a pair offrames having the opposite ends thereof secured to said switch boxes andprovided with front and rear flanges; and closure plates for saidchamber respectively mounted on said flanges, at least one of saidframes being adapted to provide a passage for a bus bar.

15. A switch board comprising a pair of spaced switch boxes constitutingsides of a bus-bar chamber; a pair of frames having the opposite endsthereof secured to said switch boxes and provided with front and rearflanges; closure plates for said chamber respectively mounted on saidflanges, at least one of said frames being adapted to provide a passagefor a bus bar; and flanges respectively extending from .said spacedswitch boxes so as to support one of said plates. y

16. A switch board structure comprising a plurality of pairs of spacedswitch boxes; spacing frames having the ends thereof respectivelysecured to at least one of said plurality of pairs of boxes; and aclosure plate, a portion of said frame between said last-mentioned pairof boxes being provided with a supporting flange for said plate.

17 A switch board structure comprising a plurality of pairs of s acedswitch boxes defining two sides of a us-bar chamber; a frame having theends thereof respectively mounted on corresponding sides of at least oneof said plurality of pairs of boxes; and a plate constituting at leastone portion of another side of said chamber, a portion of JAMES F.BURNS.

